chatter

1 of 3

verb

chat·​ter ˈcha-tər 

chattered; chattering; chatters

intransitive verb

1

: to utter rapid short sounds suggestive of language but inarticulate and indistinct

squirrels chattered angrily

2

: to talk idly, incessantly, or fast

3

a

: to click repeatedly or uncontrollably

teeth chattering with cold

b

: to vibrate rapidly in cutting

a chattering tool

c

: to vibrate especially audibly as a consequence of repeated sticking and slipping

chattering brakes

transitive verb

: to utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly

chatterer noun

chattery

ˈcha-tə-rē 

adjective

chatter

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: the action or sound of chattering

2

: idle talk : prattle

3

: electronic and especially radio communication between individuals engaged in a common or related form of activity

also : such chatter regarding future hostile activities

4

: a person who participates in online chat

Excite, Inc. … reports that users log a total of 7.5 to 8 million chat minutes on an average day. Half of online chatters are aged 18 to 34, and 15 percent are under age 17.

—Rebecca Piirto Heath

chatterer

3 of 3

noun (2)

chat·​ter·​er

ˈcha-tər-ər

plural -s

1

: one that chatters

2

: any of various passerine birds, especially the waxwings and members of the Cotingidae

Synonyms of chatter

Verb

• chat
• talk
• converse

Noun (1)

• chat
• talk
• gossip
• chitchat

Examples of chatter in a Sentence

Verb

Children chattered in the middle of the playground.

My teeth were chattering from the cold.

Birds chattered in the trees.

Noun (1)

heard the chatter of squirrels

pleasant chatter over morning coffee

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The fights were slightly delayed because of inclement weather, and so we were treated, first, to a quartet of chattering analysts wearing natty, snug suits. —Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

Vuvuzelas honked like a chorus of drunk geese, and spectators chattered excitedly. —Ryan Lenora Brown, NPR, 14 June 2026

Noun

But there is now chatter of other scenarios — some legit, some planted for negotiating purposes, some invented — and that may get louder leading up to draft day. —Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2026

Been plenty of chatter that Musk’s ultimate goal is to combine SpaceX and Tesla into one entity. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chatteren, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chatter

• chatter mark

Rhymes for chatter

• atter
• batter
• blatter
• catarrh
• clatter
• fatter
• flatter
• hatter
• latter
• matter
• natter
• patter

Kids Definition

chatter

verb

chat·​ter

ˈchat-ər

1

: to utter rapid meaningless sounds suggesting speech

squirrels chattered angrily

2

: to talk idly, continually, or rapidly

3

: to click again and again without control

teeth chattering

chatter noun

chatterer

ˈchat-ər-ər

noun

chattery

-ə-rē

adjective